Springless self-closing door



Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

SPRINGLESS SELF-CLOSING- DOOR John A. Jan'son, East Sparta, Ohio Application September 4, 1937, Serial No; 162,478

The present invention relates to closures and supporting and operating means therefor, and has reference in particular to a simple two-way closing, vertically disposed, hingedly mounted door, and the chief purpose of the invention is to provide a structure of this type which is devoid of springs or equivalent devices and to substitute in lieu thereof gravity actuable means for closing,

iii

, the door and adjacent part of the surrounding frame structure. a

As implied by the preceding statement, the novelty resides primarily in the ingenious adapter structure between the upper edge of the door and the frame structure, which adapter is automatically raised by the lift of the door and is gravity lowered so that as the door comes to its normal centered and closed position, said adapter means maintains a definite closure between the door and frame.

Other features and. advantages will become more readily apparent from the following, de-

scription and accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings: Figure l is an elevational view of a door, frame,

and associated structure forming the novelty of the present invention, the door being shown in its normal centralized closed position.

. Figure 2 is 'a top plan view with the top part of the frame structure removed to expose the underiyingdetails- Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in section and elevation disclosing the upper ends of the frame and door and associated structure.

- Figure 4 is a fragmentary view-based on Figure 3 and showing the opposite or iowerend construction and arrangement of features.

Figure 5 is a vertical section which may be said to be onthe approximate plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is ahorizontalview on the plane of the line of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a view taken on the general plane'oi' the line 'l-i of Figure dwith the door appearing in dotted line. t

Figure 8 is a bottom edge view of the door.

Figure 9 is-an end view of the hinged upper end portion of said door.

Reference being had now tothe drawings, it will be observed that the door, which is of any appropriate material, is denoted by the numeral 5 ill and is associated with the surroundingframe structure it including vertical hollow stiles or casings l2. and a topping horizontally disposedhead or casing structure it. As shown in Figure 5, the lower or bottom wall it of the head casing it is provided with a longitudinally elongated slot to accommodate the projectible and retractible trough-like adapter and closing unit-i5. To be more specific, this part it is channelshaped in cross-sectional form with its side walls .15 slidable through the slots formed in the part Hi. Said .part it functions as a closure to maintain a constant closing action between the upper end of the door and the horizontal casing it of the frame means it. .At one end and as seen in Figure 3, the bottom portion of the adapter unit it has fastened thereto a wear plate ltprovided at its left hand end with a detent hook ll engaging the projecting end portion of a complemental wear plate it on the corresponding upper edge of the door. The door is notched or cutaway as indicated at the point it to accommodate the interlocking connection between the hook and the overhanging end portion of the complemental wear plate it. i

Attention is now directed to the structure interposed between the floor and the bottom of the door. This comprises an especially designed fixture unita'rily denoted by the numeral 20. It is screwed or otherwise secured to the floor and in- 5 cludes a segmental base plate 2i having a vertical stabilizing and attaching upstanding rim portion 22. The rim portion merges into duplicate segmental risers or tracks it disposed on opposite sides of the door in the proper path of swing of go said door. The door is provided with a wear plate 2t and with a cup or receptacle to accommodate the castor roller or ball it. This provides a tracmng element and is ridable on the track flanges t3. Inasmuch as the flanges are tapered to the degree shown, they are in efiect cam elements of proper segmental form to allow the door to rise and fall as its swings to open and closed position. That portion of the base plate 2! between the adjacent ends of the so-called tracking so cams 23 is preferably formed with a keeper recess forming a receiving pocket 2! to accommodate the ball 26 in its normal resting position, in which position the door is then closed.

Attention now comes to the hinge rod or pintle 18, this being located in a bore in the door having its lower end fixedly attached to the base plate ii. The upper end is saddled in the eye portion, 20 of the adapter bracket 80. An appropriate fastening 3i secures together the complemental portions of said bet and serves to bind the hinge rod or pintle 2B rigidly in place. Thus, we have a perpendicular fixed rod 28 secured to the fixture 2i? and the bracket as and parallel to the adjacent casing it of the door frame. The door itself swings freely on thisrod as a pivot.

In operation as the door is swung in either direction, it is obvious that the anti-friction ball 26 rides on the tracking cam 23 on either side. As the door swings to open position it begins to rise bodily. In so doing it exerts an upward thrust on the telescoping or receding closure unit i5. member is of the door frame. when the door again resumes closed position, the adapter unit I5 gravitates to' its normal closing position. Consequently. said unit it is self accommodating and makes it possible to utilize a structure of this type eliminating the employment of springsand other devices likely to get out 01' order.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, as more lengthy description is thought unnec :ui

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field oi invention claimed may he resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, in combination, a door frame, a door hingedly mounted in said frame, means interposed between the door and door for bodily raising and Said unit is retracted into the hollow casing.

aliases lowering the door as it swings from closed to open position, together with means for maintain ing a constant closure between the upper portion of the frame and adjacent upper end portion of the door, said means embodying a receding gravity lowered shield interconnected with the door for raising and lowering movement therewith as a unit.

, 2. In a construction or the class described, in combination, a relatively stationary door frame, a door hingedly mounted for swinging in a horizontal direction on a vertical pivot, means interposed between the bottom of the door and adjacent floor for automatically closing the door, said means serving to bowly raise and lower the door as it swings to and fro, an adapter unit interposed between the upper portion of the frame and upper edge of the door and interconnected with the door for raising and lowering interposed between the bottom of the door and adjacent door for automatically closing the door, said means serving to bodily raise and lower the door as it swings to and fro, an adapter unit interposed between the upper portion of the frame andupper edge of the door, said adapter unit being telescopically mounted to permit desired projectible and retractible action thereof, together with wear plates interposed between the'adapter and upper edge of the door, said wear plates being interlocked at corresponding ends to cause a raising and lowering movement thereof as a unit.

JOHN A. JANSON. 

